Conservatives slam government 'incompetence'

Commenting on Office of National Statistics figures released yesterday which show that 11,000 jobs were in the NHS during the last three months of 2006, Mr Lansley said: 'What's demoralising for NHS staff is that the incompetence and mismanagement of this Labour government has meant that after additional investment expanded staffing numbers in the NHS, financial deficits now mean hospitals are cutting back on the number of jobs.'

Commenting on Office of National Statistics figures released yesterday which show that 11,000 jobs were in the NHS during the last three months of 2006, Mr Lansley said: 'What's demoralising for NHS staff is that the incompetence and mismanagement of this Labour government has meant that after additional investment expanded staffing numbers in the NHS, financial deficits now mean hospitals are cutting back on the number of jobs.'

The NHS is at risk of losing significant amounts of its additional funding growth because of the time it will take to address its workforce shortages, according to a former Department of Health senior official.

Financial penalties are being lifted from high-profile standards including cancer and elective waiting times, so far without attracting much attention. How is this happening? And will it work, asks Rob Findlay